What's the Difference Between a Copywriter and a Wedding Copywriter?
When you run a business in the wedding industry, there are few things that are critical to your long-term success: a beautiful brand, stand-out services, and a commitment to your couples to name a few. And, while you are likely to have those on lock, there is one more piece that can be the difference between an inbox filled with qualified leads and one that leaves you ghosted—strong and creative copy. Sure, you’ve managed to book clients with website copy you wrote yourself and a pricing PDF that looks great (thank you, Canva) but it doesn’t sound like you and your goal was to just get it done—not to sit and strategize it all.
And, that’s totally okay! But, if you’re reading this, you have probably reached the point in your business where you have outgrown the DIY copy and need to elevate it or maybe it never did the heavy lifting it should have in the first place. Regardless of which camp you might be in, if you’re researching copywriters to call in, we want to make sure you have the information you need to pick the right one for the job. Mainly, should you hire a copywriter or a wedding copywriter? Read on to learn the difference between the two and things to consider before bringing one on board.
What is a copywriter?
Though you might think a writer and copywriter are one in the same, there is a subtle (but important) difference—their ability to move people towards action. Because, while the term “writer” encompasses people who are novelists, journalists, academics, and poets, a copywriter’s goal is very specific. Copywriters are people who can motivate others to do something while reading their words and that something usually involves some sort of transaction. And, in order to do that, they have to have skills outside of vocabulary and grammar; namely the abilities to:
write in a range of voices and tone
complete the research needed to write on almost any topic
clearly communicate steps or instructions
sell
optimize what they write for SEO
So, in the broadest sense, a copywriter can be a jack of all trades and work with clients in multiple industries to reach almost any goal.
How is a wedding copywriter different?
After reading that, you might be thinking it sounds like just what you need as a wedding business owner. And, in certain cases, hiring a copywriter can be. But, there is a key difference between a copywriter and a wedding copywriter and that’s a deep understanding of the wedding industry.
The wedding industry is often very misunderstood by people who are on the outside looking in. (Like, every time I am talking shop with a business owner in another industry and they hear “wedding” and all of the sudden start talking about cakes and flowers as if that is all weddings are.) But, when you are trying to grow a wedding business, you need someone who not only understands that the industry is about more than finding a dress and flowers—you need someone who understands the nuance of what running a business in the industry really requires. And, a wedding copywriter:
is well versed in the world of weddings
understands your business through and through
understands your clients and what couples need
knows the SEO keywords you need to target
But, perhaps one of the most valuable things a wedding copywriter brings to the table? Being able to hit the ground running because you don’t have to ramp them into understanding what you do, who you are talking to, and how to position your business in the market.
Tips to help you choose
So, how do you know when to hire one or the other? Here are a few questions to ask yourself and our opinion.
What is the project and how much weight does it carry for your business? For example, are you needing new website copy or a welcome email template? When you are looking to hire someone to write anything that has longevity and/or is an important piece of marketing or sales collateral for your wedding business, a wedding copywriter is the way to go because they understand the nuance of your business as well as how to sell to couples. (Not to mention can easily communicate your value!)
Who have they worked with? If you need to hire someone for a smaller project, a copywriter can be very well suited for the job! Just make sure they are experienced with writing for small or creative businesses since you probably don’t want anything that sounds too corporate.
What is their process? Oftentimes copywriting projects can be big, so the question to ask is, “How much time do I need to put into this before it is off my plate?” Be sure to ask anyone you are working with what is required of you since you likely are hiring out because you don’t have a lot of spare time to invest.
The good thing to know about us is we are both! While Gillian and I have been supporting wedding pros for nearly 6 years and we both have worked extensively with brands in other industries as well. So, whether you need a wedding copywriter to nail what you need for a new website or a copywriter to dial in your brand voice, we’re here to support you!
